.C^-K3 



O ' 



/4^^ 



|Lfl 2317 
'.C8 R3 

Copy 1 



J863— J903, 
HARRIET LOUISE FORD-CUTLER 

A Tfibtite, 

BY 
HENRY WILL.IAM RANKIN. 



Reprinted from Tlie Hermonite of June 6, 1903, Mount Hermon, Mass. 



J863— J903. 
HARRIET LOUISE FORD-CUTLER^ 

A Tribute, 

By 

Henry William Rankin. 




ROM the green slopes of Mount Her- 
mon, like a beam of light, to the 
amaranthine fields of heaven sped 
the beautiful spirit whose flight from us we 
mourn. Yet, mourning, we rejoice; for the 
loveliness of that life now parted from us for 
a little time at once deepens and glorifies our 
grief. The queen of Mount Hermon, the 
crown of her husband, the light of her chil- 
dren, the charm of her friends is gone — fled 
to the bosom of that Saviour in the faith of 
whom she lived and shed her benignant radi- 
ance over us. And our consolation is in him 
alone who has taken her away, and in whose 
manifest presence she has rest. 

Mrs. Harriet Louise Ford Cutler was born 
in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 10, 1863. She 
was graduated at Wellesley College in the 
class of '84 ; was married to Henry F. Cutler, 



.v-^ 



v^"^^ 

^c."* 



July 23, 1890; and died at Mount Hermon, 
June 1, 1903. When, in 1884, the founder 
of Mount Hermon School determined to 
change its original plan to meet its present 
ends he immediately looked for a teacher 
with whom to start the work on its new 
lines. He wanted one of exceptional fitness 
in point of training and of character. Miss 
Harriet L. Ford had just been graduated 
then at Wellesley College, one of the young- 
est, most scholarly, and most admirable 
members of her class. By a classmate she 
was commended with great favor to the 
notice of Mr. Moody, and she accepted the 
new position at the latter's personal request. 
From that time to the present, saving an 
absence of two years, she was identified 
with Mount Hermon; and into the founda- 
tion and development of this unique and 
fruitful enterprise in education have gone 
all her ideals and work and life. Not in- 
deed that her ideals alone were followed, or 
have all been reached, but for nineteen years 
they have been continually operative in 
shaping the good results that now appear. 
After the beginning of her domestic cares, 
few of the students ever came to know her 



so well as many did while she was teaching. 
But all the more, as wife and mother, by 
the side of the honored Principal, was she 
the center of gracious activities and coun- 
sels by which all the interests of the school 
have been advanced and its benefits ex- 
tended. To such a degree she was herself 
the visible ideal of woman, teacher, wife, 
mother, and friend, that all who knew her 
quickly owned the spell. 

The classical instruction of Mount Her- 
mon she first organized into a graded course, 
and during four years the classes in Greek 
were wholly in her care. But from time to 
time she taught some other branches, either 
in the class room or in private ; and it soon 
appeared that every study covered by the 
curriculum of her own schooling she could 
handle in an effective and inspiring way. 
She maintained a standard of thorough 
scholarship with the most intelligent inter- 
pretation of her text and theme, and a rare 
adaptation to the differing minds of her 
pupils. And all the time this fair girl- 
graduate so carried herself before those 
grown young men and boys as to command 
their utmost loyalty and respect. She com- 



bined a dignity too real to be abused with 
an approachability too generous to be dis- 
trusted, an interest in them too sincere and 
honorable to go unanswered with a deport- 
ment too guileless for the least reproach, a 
decision that yielded only to sound reason 
with a grace that put all company at ease. 
She had manners of perfect self-command, 
expressing in every aspect, act and word 
the refinement of liberal culture in which 
from a child she had been bred, and the 
vmselfish thought of others which plainly 
marked her springs of character; for withal 
she exhibited an unfeigned and unmistak- 
able Christian faith, informing and deter- 
mining the aims of her efforts and plans. 
Soon the students found in her a friend 
whose wisdom and good-will they could 
trust; one admiring and forwarding in them 
all that was good, recognizing every just 
ambition, feeling with them in disappoint- 
ment and need, and by her very presence 
rebuking whatever was ignoble in their 
lives. 

But not only was she all this to the boys. 
For during those first years the school 
underwent a rapid growth and change ; and 



trials, almost forgotten now, strongly tested 
the coherence of its organization, and the 
temper and fellowship of its faculty. Then 
no member of that faculty was more a help 
in promoting peace, cooperation, and good 
work. No other more entirely enjoyed the 
confidence of her associates; while from 
first to last Mr. D. L. Moody placed upon 
her efficiency and judgment an exceptional 
and well-merited dependence. 

In the summer of 1888 her need of rest 
and study took her for a year to Europe. 
In September, 1889, she became the teacher 
of Greek and German at the Seminary, and 
executive head of East Hall. All that she 
had been to the teachers and boys of Mount 
Hermon she now became to the teachers 
and girls of Northfield. Here again she 
proved the faithful friend of all whom she 
could serve. Her firm yet gentle ways and 
words, and strong example, inspired admi- 
ration and affection beyond most, and a 
sense of great obligation for the incentives 
and instruction she supplied. In full charge 
of a house with sixty inmates, she also 
proved to be as good an executive as 
teacher. 



In 1890 she was married to Henry F. 
Cutler, who in September of that year, 
became the principal of Mount Hermon 
School. Symmetrical, fragrant, rich, her 
life had been as child and woman ; but never 
quite so lovely and complete as when a wife 
beloved, and the joyful mother of children, 
in the maturity of her experience and 
strength. For she grew in beauty with the 
years, both outward and inward; and the 
intellectual cast of her almost Grecian 
countenance became more luminous with 
Christian grace. Then as the fruitful vine 
of , Hebrew blessing, with all her little ones 
like olive plants about her table, exceedingly 
happy, and her cup running full, yet not 
centered in herself, she was more than ever 
the friend and helper of many. 

Happy are those children who have the 
memory of a mother like this, though she be 
taken from them for a season! Happy is 
the husband who once had such a wife, 
though they be parted for a time! Happy 
the aged mother who survives to anticipate 
reunion with this daughter, one reflecting so 
great honor on her parents! Happy are all 
they who have the heritage of her sweet 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




022 137 768 # 



and noble friendship; for this was an im- 
mortal gift they still may claim! And 
happy are the schools that are dowered 
with so priceless a tradition and ideal ! For 
such a woman shows, as Beatrice to Dante, 
what Paradise may be like ; yes, what rude 
earth shall be when all have learned to live 
by her exalted principles and faith. 

How shall we learn? By putting a like 
trust in her Redeemer; who is the center of 
the moral universe, the life and the light of 
men. For according to our confidence in 
the most trustworthy being who ever ap- 
peared to our race do we become identified 
with the interests and ideals that are repre- 
sented for humanity in him ; comprehending 
every department of our nature, and every 
stage of our existence, whether in this world 
or any other. Well was it said by a prophet 
of these latter days, and with more signifi- 
cance than he designed: "The problem of 
restoring to the world original and eternal 
beauty is solved by the redemption of the 
soul."* 



* R. W. Emerson in Nature, 1836. 



-C^-K3 




itil^Sy ^^ CONGRESS 



022 137 768 



Hollinger Corp. 
pH 8.5 



